Tuesday, November 17, 2015

Sunday, November 15, 2015

I have several persimmon trees. Because they are still young we sometimes get great fruit in the late fall yet sometimes the cold weather comes too early, sometimes the crows and raccoons discover our harvest before us. But the colors this year are more than enough reward.

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

This common reed plant (Phragmites) has some varieties that are native to the USA. Back in the 1800's it is believed that the phragmites from Europe came through ballasts in the boats and invaded the United States pushing out the native reed grasses. Recently this is being questioned.Peat bog research indicates that it has been here for over 3,000 years. The non-native version is much more invasive and has squeezed out all types of native plants along coastlines in the mid-Atlantic but the reason for that is still disputed. While the photo above makes you think it has lots of seeds, it spreads mostly underground by rhizomes. A recent study has found 27 lineages/strains of this plant exist with only 11 being native to North America. With the rise of water against shorelines, it will interesting to see how rapidly this reed adapts or dies. Only an expert can tell the different varieties by observation. When putting up our wood duck boxes we found we had to move a number further out into the marsh since the phragmites had taken over the space providing a tool for predators such as snakes to climb up into the boxes.

Monday, November 09, 2015

A week or so ago I took a walk around a cluster of lakes west of where I live. The wooded paths were more than inviting. We have had a perfect fall that kept cool weather plants spring green while changing all other plants to a rainbow of warm colors.

But while most of us look up at the rich leaves dancing against a blue sky, I decided to spend some time looking down.

Sunday, November 01, 2015

I have a sugar maple tree. Boy do I have a sugar maple tree! When first planted it was just my height, now it is thrice my size and I am probably a bit shorter, and still it is young. It grows with madness creating huge palm shaped fans of green that flicker and fly and
make deep green shadein the summersheltering insects and birds and me. It is a snow bird in my warmer climatebut seems to accept the longer season.

When autumn comes for her audacious visit,my maple becomes insane
in reds, peaches,oranges and limes flaunting color back at the sun bold and bodacious
in its shades of glory

expending the last of its energy before casting everything to the ground,in the grand finale then taking a long winter's nap.